And the new council appointee is … nobody

Published 3:18 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016

BAD AXE— City Council held a special meeting Monday to appoint someone to fill a vacancy left by former Councilman Steve Kennedy who resigned because he accepted employment elsewhere.

Since his resignation, six letters of interest were submitted by residents who want to serve on council.

While five of the six candidates were present at Monday’s meeting, none — including the sixth absent candidate — were appointed to fill the remainder of Kennedy’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2009.

“After one failed motion, and one lack of a second, (Councilman Dave) Rapson asked for a committee to make a recommendation,” said City Manager John Nugent.

Council has until Oct. 1 to fill the vacancy, Nugent said. The city had been accepting letters of interest from residents until Sept. 17. It is unclear whether the council will face any consequences if they do not name a replacement by the Oct. 1 deadline.

Of those candidates, both Seibert and Plevnia formally have served on council.

Nugent said a motion was made and supported for Plevnia, however he received only two of the five votes cast during Monday’s special meeting.

A motion was made to appoint Seibert to fill the vacancy, however that motion received no seconds and therefore couldn’t be voted on.

Because of this, Rapson suggested a committee be formed to interview the candidates and make a recommendation for council to vote on.

That newly-formed committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29 at City Hall to interview three candidates. The committee will interview the other three candidates at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 at City Hall.

Then the committee will make a recommendation to council, and council will vote on the recommendation at a later meeting.

“I don’t know if there will be a special meeting called after Oct. 1 or not — there hasn’t been one scheduled yet,” Goebel said.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6.